Think of someone you find it difficult to like. Think of a person who annoys you, makes you feel uncomfortable, who lives totally differently from you. Does that person dress the way you think they should? Is he clean? Shaven? Does he have tattoos? Does she dress modestly? Does she reek of perfume? Does she walk and talk as ladies are supposed to? Are these the reasons why you find it difficult to like them?
Why is it that we want people to be as we picture that they should be? Is that really how love works? I will love you, but you must fit into my expectations. I will help you, but you must look like you really want my help. Everything must be in its proper place, before we can start to show our affection, and our concern for these individuals. It sounds more like a duty that we grudgingly give, than a true concern for what the person needs at that time. If it is a duty and not a concern, then we have missed the meaning of Christianity.
If Jesus felt that way before taking up His cross, I wonder which one of us would still be looking for salvation. I dare say that all of us would have been left behind. Why is it that we see what is wrong with others, but don’t view ourselves in the same way, with the same scrutiny? We make allowances for ourselves. Or, more accurately, we don’t even see the imperfections that flow from us. This is not to tear us down, but rather to help us realize that all of us, every person who lives, struggle with our own problems. We pray that we can grow in love to reduce our own frailties. This is a huge enough task, so much so, that criticizing others is a waste of time.
Jesus has told us again and again, “I am the Way…” That is not just poetry. He is telling us simply that if we want to live our lives as God wishes, then we must be like Jesus… be Jesus. Jesus didn’t say to the beggar, I would make you clean inside, but first go wash yourself. He didn’t tell the adulterous woman that he couldn’t help her until she helped herself. The lepers, well they just wouldn’t stand a chance if Jesus felt as we do.
We cannot continue to put people in boxes. We cannot continue to categorize people, silently putting them into a niche we have set aside for them. If they don’t fit, well just drop them into the catch all bag of “unimportant stuff.” The next person you see is the same as you, struggling, trying to cope, fighting their own niche placing exercises, (for all you know, maybe you just fell into someone else’s niche).
The only way that we can be the person that God is looking to find in us, is by following the way of Jesus. People are not obstacles, are not annoyances, and definitely are not below us. We have all flowed from God’s goodness. Just as the trees and flowers, the sunlight, the birds in the air, all creation (that includes us) flow from God’s beauty. We are not here to criticize, to step on people so that we can get ahead, to take advantage of people. No, we are here to give honor and glory back to God. We do that in a myriad of ways. But probably the most important way is to see the beauty of God in all of creation (others as well as ourselves). It is then and only then, that the way of Jesus becomes a meaningful, true option for us.
Category: Lives to Imitate
Today’s Mass is in honor of St. Lawrence. The Psalm 112: 1-8 states, “Blessed is the man that fears the Lord…his heart is steady and will not be afraid.” These words typify the Deacon, St. Lawrence. God’s guarantee of safety, in the face of all forms of danger, was the only assurance that he needed. He faced his own torturous death with calm, with peace and even with humor. While his torturers were actually grilling him to death, his reply to them was, “You can turn me over now; I am done on this side.”
This display of immense courage and calm in the face of this terrible torture causes us confusion and bewilderment. How can he possibly remain like this? He must be someone God has granted unusual peace and long-suffering. We know that we could not display this same courage. We can’t even imagine ourselves even being willing to allow ourselves to endure such harsh punishment.
But the truth is, we can be. We truly can be. The direction of the above mentioned Psalm tells us how. “Blessed is the man that fears the Lord”. Blessed! Endowed with peace and serenity! Trusting in God! If God is my ally, what evil can possibly upset me? That, however, is the fly in the ointment. We go to church. We pray to God. We speak of our love for Him. We leave church … and forget everything that we said and felt. Trust is so very difficult for us. We have gotten so used to relying on ourselves, so totally, that we don’t even allow God to direct us.
“Fearing the Lord”, is not intended as a dread of God so that we are afraid to do anything contrary to His word. But rather fear in this context, implies a bond so close that we are happy to be aligned with Him. We understand His love for us, and so we trust Him, implicitly. We know a true love of a mother or father would not, and could not possibly harm their child purposely, but would protect him/her at all cost. Even though correction and discipline are sometimes employed by the parents, the child recognizes that he/she is loved. As a result of this secure feeling, the child responds, listens and tries to emulate.
With God, as our Father, our life becomes more than just a natural animal’s life. We are special to Him. If we are not special then, why would He have given us intelligence and the ability to reason (no other animal has it)? Why would He give us free will to make choices (no other creature can do that)? His love, an infinite love, has been and will continue to be totally engulfing us. You might ask, “How then can we suffer and die”? The ONLY evil that exists is the loss of our soul, the total disruption of the bond that exists between God and man. All other things that are regarded as evil are temporal, are fleeting. Loss of possessions, loss of health, disabilities, and even death — none of these bring about the loss of our soul. They are hindrances. They are things that we must endure; but they cannot, they should not take our gaze away from God.
So we see that what is important to us is what determines what we call “evil”. We are all called to greatness. We are all called to being re-united with God. If, however, our value system puts our job, our possessions, our family, our friends and acquaintances, our pleasures, even our health above God, then loss of any of these will represent evil to us. On the other hand, if our call to greatness, our call to being united with God is of paramount importance to us then we can understand St. Lawrence’s total disdain for himself and his almost humorous reply, “You can turn me over now; I am done on this side.” To reach this unity with God is what we must strive to work at the rest of our lives.
Apparitions of Our Lady
We place great admiration and reverence in the Blessed Mother of Jesus. If through our baptism we are born again in Christ, then she, indeed, is the Mother of us all. Mary has always been a mediator for us and has appeared a number of times on earth. These apparitions have been to warn, console, strongly criticize, exhort and encourage us to change our ways of living. As our own mothers would help us, Mary helps the world in times of need and shows us what must be done. Her guidance, her urging us to pray the rosary, her encouragement, should not be taken lightly.
The following is a list of some of the better known apparitions of the Blessed Mother. Those that are listed are shown from the oldest to the most recent. I think it noteworthy to mention that the last three have taken place in the 1900’s. Without trying to be an alarmist, I do feel that Mary is telling us something extremely urgent. Her messages are becoming more frequent and more specific in content. To learn a little bit more about each of these apparitions, visit the Work of God Website-1. (If you do go, make sure you read the three messages of Our Lady in the Akita apparition, especially the last message.)
Guadalupe… Mexico in 1531 to an Indian, Juan Diego.
LaSalette…France in 1846 to Melanie Mathieu and Maximin Giraud
Lourdes…. France in 1858 to Bernadette Soubirous (age 14)
Fatima… Portugal in 1917 to Lucia (9), Francisco (8) and Jacinta (6)
Zeitoun…Egypt in 1968 to Muslim Farouk Mohammed Atwa
Akita…Japan in 1973 to Sr. Agnes Katsuko Sasagawa
There are many other times that Mary has come to tell mankind something. The important fact to remember in all of these is that Mary is mother to us all. The fact that she gives the message to someone in France, or Portugal, in Egypt or Mexico reasserts her motherhood of all peoples. The fact, to which country she chose to deliver it, is totally unimportant. To let the country be a distraction to you, so much so that you ignore the message, not only is foolhardy, but does a disservice to Our Lady.
-1 http://www.theworkofgod.org/Aparitns/Aparitns.htm
Today is the feast of St. Alphonsus. The Redemptorists Fathers are saying this prayer after each Mass. I looked on their website to see what churches were having this devotion. There were none in the area. I downloaded this prayer, which they will be saying after each Mass, today. So this re-print is for those of us, who are suffering the aches and pains of arthritis, as did this saint. May this prayer help us cope with this debilitating disease. Pray it daily.
Dear St. Alphonsus, friend of the poor, and arthritis sufferer, you are the special patron of all who suffer from arthritis and the pains of many years.
When our joints, hips, arms, legs and knuckles hurt so much that tears well up in our eyes, help us to recall the tears, the sweat and the blood that flowed from our crucified Jesus who bore so much suffering out of love for each of us.
St. Alphonsus, afflicted with curvature of the spine and nailed to a wheelchair cross in your final years, teach us to unite all our pains with those of Jesus, so our patience and love inspires others to accept the difficulties of their lives.
We ask you to intercede for us so our pains will be eased but more so that we are enabled to be one with Jesus in His great act of dying and rising. Amen.
Saul, why do you persecute Me?
St. Paul’s words, “And I live, now not I; but Christ liveth in me…”-1 seems to be one of the best explanations of what Christianity is all about. Much has been written about the significance of Christianity and the meaning of Christianity. In these eleven words, I believe, St. Paul has succinctly described for us what Christian Living is. View full article »
Sunday morning as I was getting ready for church, I saw my Padre Pio statue on the dresser. I didn’t think much about it. But then, this thought came into my head: View full article »
Early on in his “Confessions”, St. Augustine writes “For Thou hast formed us for Thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless, till they rest in Thee.” View full article »
